Leeds United target Lewis Macleod looks to set to depart from Brentford in the new year after the midfielder was omitted from the Bees’ squad for their 2-0 victory over Millwall on Saturday.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a departure from the Whites’ Championship rivals after snubbing their offer of a new contract.

The former Rangers man is believed to be keen on a return to his former club in Glasgow, where he plied his trade until 2014.

But with Steven Gerrard unlikely to find space for him in an already stacked squad, could Macleod instead make a shorter trip north up the M1 to join Marcelo Bielsa’s league leaders?

Young Player of the Year at the Gers in 2012-13, he won back-to-back lower-tier titles with the club as they returned to the top-flight following their demotion to the fourth division after lapsing into administration, claiming both Scottish League Third Division and Scottish League One honours.

Lewis Macleod's Brentford future appears uncertain

He subsequently made only 25 appearances across his first four seasons with Brentford following a series of injuries but had become an established first-teamer this season, before his omission this weekend.

Macleod remains one potential target for the January transfer window as Bielsa looks to ring in the new year with some fresh additions to his already depleted squad.